Nielsen Online recently released its figures for the number of active Internet home users in 10 countries for the month of January. The U.S. saw the biggest month-to-month increase in its Internet population.
The U.S. was one of three countries on Nielsen’s list of 10 that actually realized an increase in its active Internet home user population. It finished January with 156.7 million users, up 2.22 percent (or 3.4 million users) from 153.3 million in December.
Switzerland saw the second largest growth as its active Internet home user population grew to 3.8 million from 3.7 million in December, reflecting 0.37 percent growth. The country added 13,660 users.
Australia was a close third, finishing January with 11.6 million users, up 0.36 percent from 11.6 million users in December. The country added 42,020 users.
The U.K. experienced the biggest drop in its active Internet home user population, finishing January with 28.8 million users, down 3.14 percent from 29.7 million users in December.
Germany also experienced a large drop, finishing the first month of the year with 38.2 million users, down 2.97 percent from 39.4 million users in the previous month.
Japan saw its active Internet home user population drop 1.46 percent to 49.9 million in January, from 50.6 million in December. Meanwhile, Italy experienced a 0.99 percent decline, finishing the month with 17.4 million users, down from 17.6 million users in December.
France’s active Internet home user population shrunk 0.93 percent to 28.7 million in January, from 29.0 million in December.
Spain saw its Internet user population shrink to 18.2 million in January, down 0.80 percent from 18.3 million in December, while Brazil saw its Internet user population decline to 24.5 million in January, down 0.32 percent from 24.5 million in December.
In December, the U.S. and Switzerland, the top gaining countries in January, were the only two of the 10 countries to see drops in active Internet home user populations (1.48 percent and 1.49 percent, respectively).
The U.K., which saw the largest decline in its active Internet home user population in January, saw the biggest month-to-month increase in December (4.93 percent).
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